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Asparagus Spring Rolls with Sweet Red Chili Dipping Sauce

By Brett Moore, About.com

California Asparagus Commission
Here's a refreshing twist for using asparagus. Crunchy and delicious, these party appetizers make a colorful presentation and they're healthy.

Prep Time: 20 minutes

Cook Time: 5 minutes

Ingredients:

  • 1 pound asparagus
  • 3/4 cup fresh mint leaves
  • 3/4 cilantro leaves
  • 1 mango or papaya
  • Fresh ginger, 2-inch piece
  • 1/2 red bell pepper
  • 1/2 cup dry roasted, salted peanuts, chopped
  • 2 cups fresh bean sprouts
  • 8-inch dried rice paper spring roll wrappers, 6 to 8 sheets
  • 1/4 cup store-bought Asian Sweet Chili sauce
  • Juice of 1 lime

Preparation:

Prepare filling:

Blanche asparagus in boiling salted water until tender to the bite, 3 to 5 minutes. Peel and julienne mango or papaya and ginger. Julienne bell pepper. Set aside with remaining filling ingredients.

To assemble:

Fill a large bowl with hot water. Working with one wrapper at a time, slip rice paper wrapper into water until pliable, about 1 minute. Place wrapper on cutting board. In the center, put 3 to 4 asparagus spears with the tips coming off the end of the wrapper slightly, 3 to 4 mango or papaya slices, 3-4 pepper slices, 3 tablespoons sprouts, 2 tablespoons herbs, sprinkling of ginger and peanuts. Roll the wrapper from the bottom up, tightly. Leaving the ends open. Set aside and cover with a damp towel. Finish with remaining wrappers. When ready to serve, slice wrappers into 3 segments each and stand upright on a serving platter.

Mix chili sauce and limejuice together. Serve along side the rolls as a dipping sauce.

Makes 18 to 24 slices.

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